52 CCT October Technique Challenge

Please join us this week at 52CCT with a...new to me... technique called Smooshing.  I was excited to give this one a try!   I love sneaking in some new and cool techniques while having tons of fun. 

I wanted the colors I chose to remind of a cold winter day.  I used two blues and a purple to try to get that affect.  My Tim Holtz glass mat comes in handy for this!  I just pressed my ink pad down right onto the mat, spritz the ink with water and "smooched" my watercolor cardstock onto the colors until I was happy with the coverage.  A few areas left white were left on purpose.   

Photo below will show the effect I was trying to achieve with leaving some white, blue and purple areas.  You can see the deer was popped up.  I tried laying them flat down flat against the cardstock but they got lost in the scenery.  The deer has too many skinny areas to try to pop up using pop up dots. I just cut grey fun foam out of the deer die and glued the deer onto it.  

A little spritz of color shine over the top of the background to resemble the glistening of ice.

It's now time to crack down on those Holiday cards...Halloween, Thanksgiving and New Years Eve.   

Head over to https://52cct.blogspot.com/ for some more inspiration from the other designers and have fun creating your Christmas Smoosh Card!

Netta

Heidi Swapp Color Shine White

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide: Salty Ocean, Stormy Sky, Seedless Preserves

Penny Black Wintry Trail Stamp

Amazon Deer Die

Gray Fun Foam

52 CCT October Theme Challenge

Can you tell what the theme is at 52CCT? 

SNOWMAN!!

You cannot go wrong with a snowman on a Christmas card.

Love this adorable country snowman.  

All the pieces were colored and cut.  I made one error by gluing the scarf down before I got the coat on so it took a bit to slowly lift the edge of the scarf to tuck the jacket under.  Each dark piece was also colored with brown sparkle before I glued them down, even each stripe on the scarf.  The PDF also came with the black springs for the arms, eyes and tiny buttons but they were too delicate to cut out.  I remembered from years ago I had a long thin die from Sizzix for celebration that looked like it.  Dug it out and decided it would be just fine!  The eyes were easy...just dug out my wiggly eyes!  For the buttons, I just used a small hole punch and used a white pen to draw in the 4 button holes.

On the background, I dropped two drops of sparkle on my Tim Holtz glass mat and also dropped a couple drops of water.  Mixed the two up so the sparkle was diluted in color and watery.  Next take a brush and get it saturated with the mix.  To get the drops of "sparkly snow", just put the brush over the area that you want and tap the brush against my other finger.  Droplets big and small will spray onto the paper.  Just keep doing that until your happy!  Because it is not really soaking the paper much it does not warp it.  I also flipped the paper  over onto the small amount of mixture remaining to get bigger colored areas.  

I think he is just adorable!  Perfect Christmas Card for someone back home.

Please join us and have some fun!  Also, go check out the other design teams snowman projects. https://52cct.blogspot.com/

Netta

Copic Colors B0000, B00, E17, E18, RV00, R27, 100,  YR04

Spectrum Noir Sparkle Pens Colors Smoked Quartz, Moonstone, Rose Quartz

Regular Hole Punch for Buttons

White Pen for button Holes
Stampin up Pretty Pine
Impression Obsession Die Fir Sprig

Sizzlits Loopy Die

Snowman PDF
Wiggly Eyes

Goodluck Butterflies

Today, at work, we will be saying good luck to a co-worker.  She is the sweetest person and such a dream to work with.  Last night I sat down and made a card for her.  The butterfly cutouts on the front and the butterflies inside are from Memory Box.

I cut the butterflies inside out of an experimental background I had made long ago.  There is a gold shimmer on top of them so I used a gold metallic ink pen and put an edge of gold around each one.

I placed each butterfly inside to match the same spot as the butterflies on the front.

Here is the card opened up.

I will place this at her desk for her to find when when she comes in.  I wish her lots of luck but I want her to know.....She will be missed!

Netta

52 CCT October Color Challenge

Welcome to a new challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.  Challenge this week is to use Blue, White and Brown.

I first stamped the rubber stamp with the white craft ink down onto Kraft cardstock.  Next, I inked up the same stamp with the blue ink.  Instead of stamping right down, I wiped a couple of the petals off.  That way when I stamped down, some of the petals would stay white.  

I used the pencil and Sparkling pens to tidy and fancy up the image.

Happy Holidays was stamped down using my Misty and my favorite black ink.

We all know how it goes in November.  The rush to get the Christmas shopping down, decorations up and get all the Christmas cards done in time.  The challenges are just to help us all get them done in plenty of time to mail.  One less thing to add into the crunch time!  I hope this inspires you to get going...if you haven't yet.

Netta

Penny Black Cling Stamp "Scarlet Majesty"

Penny Black "Berry Merry Christmas" sentiment

Whisper White Stampin Up Craft ink pad

Ranger Distress Oxide Tumbled glass ink pad

Versafine Onyx Black ink pad

Derwent Inktense white pencil

Spectrum Noir Teacup and Moonstone Pens

Happy National Card Making Day 2019

This is my 2nd post today in celebration of National Card Making Day.  This card is about using scraps from a background I made & loved. 

 I saved the scraps and had no idea what to do with them until today.  I covered white cardstock with adhesive from my Xyron Creative Station  and layered my scrap pieces over the top.

I left some white showing between the pieces so I could burnish black glitter in between the pieces.  It will fill in the sticky gaps but not be over powering with glitter.

I used Impression Obsession die to cut out all the pieces.  I was able to turn each piece 1/4 turn and place them back together. Now all the lines are not going just straight across.  I glued that whole piece down onto a gold left over piece of cardstock.  I saved the scraps for later on the card.

I cut and glued down the rest of the card.  The bow was actually a bow I had made at some point in the past and it seemed to fit perfectly.  The balls are tiny glass colored beads I have had for years.  Merry Christmas was cut from the left over piece I had saved.

Thanks for checking in with me today to see what I made.  Have a happy and creative day!

Netta

52 CCT October Sketch Challenge

Happy World Card Making Day!

Did you know that this day was created by Paper Craft magazine back in 2006.  It is always the 1st Saturday in October.  The idea was to inspire everyone to get started on their Holiday cards.

So...let's get that inspiration going for you!

Do you remember the Twinkling H20's?  I have had mine for about 18 years and periodically I pull them out to play with.  If my memory serves me right...I believe they actually went off the market for a short bit and then made a come back.   The card I made actually took me two tries.  First one did not go in my junk pile for later use.  It was beyond junk!  I was much happier with my second attempt.   

The image was embossed on water color paper with clear embossing to keep the color within the walls.

I just sprayed the pots of color with water and used a water brush to pick up the color.  Think of the H2O's as another form of water color paint with such a gorgeous shimmer to them.    

After I was done painting, I stamped a few branches and embossed some snowflakes.  

The 52cct challenge was a sketch.  I flipped mine to get the image on the card the way I wanted it.  

Will not get a whole lot of time to play today as it is my birthday.  I will head out to an early dinner tonight with my husband. 

Happy Birthday 🎁 to me!

Netta

LuminArte Colors: Green Tea, China Black, Natural Linen, Heavenly White, Hot Cinnamon, Periwinkle, Blue Ice

Bird Stamp: wish I knew!  It's so old.  If you know...tell me!

Branches Stamp: Penny Black Winter Branches

Stampin Up Beautiful Baubles for snow falling

White Embossing Powder mixed with fine glitter

Clear Embossing Powder

Tim Hotz Distress Watercolor Paper

52 CCT September Technique Challenge

Happy Saturday!  For those of you who have been playing with us at 52CCT, this week is a technique challenge...Easel Cards.  

My card is a step up from just an easel card.  It is called a Swing Easel Card.

 

The close up of the outdoor scene is a Northwoods Rubber Stamp.  If you click on the photo, it will show all the sparkle on the stamped image.  Do you know how hard it is to not touch the image until it completely dries?  Normally I end up touching and messing it up.  So I colored and sparkled up the card before I made the easel card.  It gave it time to dry!

I cut out two Merry Christmas, one in green and one in sparkling white.  I glued the white on top of the green to get a bit of depth on the words.

The cards folds easily to mail in a regular A2 card.

Now, a swing easel card may look intimidating but I found a great video tutorial that walks you through it slowly.  The only difference is the video shows a card that is larger than an A2.  She started out with a 5" x 10" cardstock.  Next time I make one, I am starting with 4 1/4 x 10.  I didn't realize hers was going to be wider until I made mine.  Before I decorated it, I cut it down..equal on both sides to make it 4 1/4 .  You can see the video here

https://52cct.blogspot.com/

I hope you join us with this challenge and be sure to check out the other design team members cards as well! 

Happy Crafting... 

Netta

Northwoods rubber Stamp Company:

#P10553-Winter Church and Stream

Copic Colors:

Y18, R24, R29, B0000, B24, B29,G07 and E #'s 02, 13, 15, 17, 31, 33 and 40

Sparkles:

Stickles Yellow, Nuvo Fresh Snowfall and Wow Glitter Twinklebelle

Spellbinder Die:

Holiday Sentiments

Impression Obsession Die:

Large and Small Poinsettia's Sets

The Paper Studio:

Green and White Sparkle cardstock

Stampin Up Cardstock:

Whisper White

Arteza Watercolor Flowers

One very large stamp colored with the Arteza Brush Watercolor Pens...cut in half will create......

2 different birthday cards!

Thank you for stopping by!

Netta

Arteza Real Brush Pens:
Bubble Bath Pink, Rouge Pink, Cadmium Orange, Orange Rust, Tawny, Bumblebee Yellow, Lemon Yellow, Light Magenta, Parma Gray, Light Green

Watercolor Paper

Tim Holtz Glorious Garden Stamp

Technique: Camouflage Cards

Glitter
Spectrum Noir Sparkle Colors-Inspired Violet, Biscuit, Rose Quartz, Teacup and Nuvo Midas Touch

52 CCT September Theme Challenge

Good morning!  

This weeks challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown is Bears.  The fold for this card is a Bridge fold and will fit in an A2 envelope.

I love this image from Whipper Snapper Designs "Hello Friend".  It's a nice size for an A2 card as it is 4 1/2 x 2 1/2".  I used Copics to color the image and then cut it out.  I extended where the two were standing on the snow so that it would fit across the card for the bridge.

To make the Bridge card base:  An uncut piece of cardstock 8 1/2 x 11 will make two bridge fold cards.  Just cut the card in 1/2 at the 4 1/4 mark.  It will give you two pieces of 4 1/4  x 11.  Now trim the 11 inch down to 8" (4 1/4" x 8") and save the extra 3" you cut off as you can use that for the bridge if you want. Waste not want not!  For my base, I had a piece of two sided cardstock left over from the paper pack Snowflake Ridge Collection.   I cut it down to 4 1/4 x 8".   The left over piece fit perfectly on the back of the card to write my sentiment on.

Now score the 4 1/4" x 8" on each end at the 1 1/4" mark.  Slide it in and score at the 2 1/2" mark.  Now, flip it over and do the same thing to the other side of the base.  You want to fold the ends like the image above.  Use a bone folder to get a nice crisp fold.  When you flatten everything down with folds in, you will see the folds do not quite touch in the middle.  That is ok.  It will not matter because the card is not like a gatefold card.  

The bridge across the front can be done anyway you want.  You can use the 3" x 4 1/4" piece you have left over or you can make the bridge fit all the way across the front like I did.  If you want it to fit across like I did, then the piece I used was 5 1/2" in length.  If you use the 3" x 4 1/4", you will have to determine where it needs to be glued down.  Stand the card up like the photo above and set your bridge up against it to measure where to glue it.  

To fold the card so it fits into an envelope, press it down to the right or left.  One side of the folds will lay flat unfolded and the other side will be folded in on the folds.  

I hope you understood all that.  Just leave me a message if you need help.  I would be happy to help you!

Now it's your turn!  We challenge you to create a Christmas Bear Card and please share with the design team at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown.

https://52cct.blogspot.com/

thank you

Netta

Copics Colors:

E #'s 04, 07, 18, 31, 35,40.  Also used #T2, #B02 and #C7.

Whipper Snapper Image:

Hello Friend #BBY900

Impression Obsession Die:

#079-U Birch Trees

Newton's Nook Designs Image:

Sentiment from "Winter Memories" 

Stampin Up Image (not shown):

Sentiment on the back from Beautiful Baubles Set

Sizzix Snowflake Shapeabilities Die

Celebration Birthday Bouquet

This was a relaxing card to make.  I love to sit and color quietly.  Brings back my inner child!  *S*

I cut the front of the card a little short so I could hang the flower cluster over the edge.  I backed the back of the flowers with another thin cardstock because of the overhang.  You could see the copic color on the back and I wanted to hide that.

Thank you for stopping by.  Enjoy your day

Netta

Gemini Stamp and Die Set Sunflowers

Copic colors 

YG03, YG05, YG11, YG13

Y13, Y17, Y19

B32, B37

E33

Stamping Up

Whisper White Ribbon

52 CCT September Color Challenge

This week's challenge is a color challenge: black and white.  

This card is a very quick card to make if you are in a hurry to make a few Christmas Cards.  I used a die on black cardstock to cut out the area and backed it with white sparkling cardstock to resemble winter/snow.  I had a slight issue on my plan.  I was going to run out of the white sparkling cardstock to finish cutting out the trees.

Here is a trick that I used on this card to get my extra piece I needed.  If I had glued my black top piece down onto the mat, you would have only seen the sparkling white edge and everything underneath the black would have been wasted. The trick is to cut out the middle.  Just leave enough to glue the top piece down.  In my case, I had to leave some along the top because of the open area on the black cardstock.  It gave me enough to get my trees and words.

This card is so quick, I even did another one with blue and white.

You have to agree though, the black and white, makes such an elegant card.  Please head over to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown as you will find so many inspiring and fabulous cards from the other Design Team members!

https://52cct.blogspot.com/

Thank you for stopping by!

Netta

Amazon

Woods and Deer Herd Frame

The Paper Studio 

Christmas Cardstock Pack

Impression Obsession Die

Fir Trees

Sizzix Die

Christmas Phrases

Spellbinders Die

Holiday Sentiment

Junk Box Christmas

I just wanted to show another card I made from digging into my junk box.  I did the background on this card and did not like it.  I have a coordinating Christmas embossing folder and stamp.  I inked and stamped the image down first and then matched up the inked portion to the embossed folder images.  Ran it through my Big Shot and I did not like the results.   Some areas of the cardstock cracked a bit and the inked image did not quite match up with the folder.  

I gave it a second look and decided to give the background another try.  Matched it up with a gold trim and big bold gold Merry Christmas die cut...now I am thinking it is not so bad.

Got to add it to my pile of Christmas cards.  I am on a roll!

Netta

Hero Arts Sizzix Folder and Stamp Set

Holly Background Set

Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlits

Merry Christmas die

Memento

Teal Zeal

White and Gold Cardstock

CAS Christmas Boughs

Simon Says Stamp Pine Bough stencil and Nuvo Glimmer Paste Sparkling Emerald Green for the bough.  Tim Holtz Sizzix Thinlit Merry Christmas die and gold sparkle cardstock for sentiment.  Applied Memento Desert Sand and Bamboo Leaves with a sponge for a little along the edge and on the bough.

Simple and done.

Now, how do you get glitter paste off when you forget to drop the stencil in water as soon as your done?

Lesson learned.....*sigh*

Going to add this to the CAS On Friday   CAS means to keep the card "clean and simple".  I have never joined this challenge before and I struggle big time with keeping my cards simple.  This card looks like it could be classified as clean and simple!  

Later..

Netta

52 CCT September Sketch Challenge

Sketch Time over at 52CCT!

I can't believe we are into September challenges with only 12 weeks left for me to get all my cards done.  Pressure is on!

I saw a lady on youtube who created a fairy card with a moon that was created after the background was done.  I thought that was very different from what I have always done.  Normally I tack down a circle, make my background and then pull off the circle.  I did not do my card like her's (background technique) but I did use her idea of creating the moon after she created the background.

I knew in my head how I wanted to do the sketch. 

I wanted a big moon to be the circle of the card.  First I used White Mask Liquid Frisket and splattered it on the card.  Once it dried completely, I used Distress Oxide Inks with a sponge to make the background.  I used my Light Mister Spray Bottle Tim Holtz gave us in a class I went to and sprayed a small amount of water on the background.  Once that dried, I finished up the moon.  I cut out a thin but sturdy piece of plastic and placed it where I wanted the moon.  Used a small amount of Oxide Black Soot and sponge around the outside edge.  It gave the moon a bit of dept.  Removed the circle and sponged a small amount of Antique Linen and very little Mustard Seed along the top and side of the moon.

After background was done, I rubbed the mask off and it left white flecks like snow falling.  On the moon I had to redo some of the snow with a white gel pen as some of the mask had rubbed off and I did not catch that.  

Finished off the rest of the card and here is my result!

I can't wait to see what you come up with on your version of this sketch!
Have a super crafting day!
Netta

Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks:  

antique linen, stormy sky, black soot, salty ocean, tumbled glass, peacock feathers, mustard seed

Stampin Up Rubber Stamps:

Holiday Home for Santa and sentiment

My Favorite Things:

Stylish Snowflakes Die, Window Die, 

Tim Holts Sizzix Die:

Tree Line

Cardstock:

White, Blue Glitter